That's South Side

Chapter 16

            

"Alinea," Jerry poked his head in her office, "Conference room, now please."

Alinea just internally rolled her eyes and took a deep breath as she already knew what this was going to be about. This week tensions were high around everyone, but especially her and the team.

Jerry wanted to mediate a reconciliation between her, Jimmy and Dwyane. She wasn't sure that was going to happen.

Ever since Taj left things had been so weird. No one wanted to be here anymore, including her.

Slowly walking, she managed to make her way to the conference room where she saw Wade and Jimmy sitting, already talking with Jerry. As she opened the door, all eyes landed on her as she sat down in the last open chair across from the two players, and next to Jerry.

"Alinea, good." Jerry breathed, as the room fell silent. "I think it'd be good, if we can work through some stuff that's been going on."

No answer.

"Alinea?" He questioned.

"Yeah?" She shrugged, what'd she want her to say? She wasn't the one in the wrong here.

"Did you hear me?"

"Yeah," She nodded, "I just don't know what you want me to say."

"Maybe," Wade suggested, looking as Jerry as Jimmy just looked to the ground. "Maybe you can let us try and work this out on our own." He concluded, as Jerry just nodded.

"Alright," He sighed, getting up from his seat, "Please, at least try." He pleaded, before leaving the three alone.

"We don't get it." Dwyane began, looking at Alinea, "Why you don't wanna to talk to none of us anymore."

"No one wants to be here." Alinea answered plainly, referring to Wade's recent comments on not wanting to come back to the Bull's next season unless they made the playoff's – which wasn't looking the most promising. The vibe in the locker room was just bad, no one wanted to talk everyone was just in a bad mood.

"No one said that." Jimmy said, finally speaking.

"Really?" Alinea crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair, "Not really true."

"Huh?" Wade questioned.

"Look don't play dumb!" Alinea exclaimed, "You don't wanna be here?" She questioned to both of them, "You just wanna give up, leave because we don't make the playoffs," She continued, looking at Wade, "Fine by me. I'm done trying to look out for you and convince you about Chicago. I shouldn't have to."

"That's never what I meant..." Wade trailed off.

"I never said I didn't wanna be here." Jimmy clarified, looking across to see the stress coursing through her body.

"I'm over it." She breathed, "Don't lie to me, you both are the source of this big problem. Y'all act like you own basketball!" She argued, "You don't." She reminded, "You don't wanna be in Chicago, it's not good enough for you? Fine. Then we don't want you, don't waste my time. I need to find people who actually care, and wanna be here." She breathed.

"That's not it." Wade defended, "Taj's trade...we suck right now." He shrugged, "I'm an old guy, I'm just weighing my options and winning is important to me."

"So you move out of the south side you really become something else huh?" She mumbled, shaking her head.

"Excuse me?" Wade asked, raising his eyebrows.